Originally posted by: chaoswarp on 7/31/2005 8:51:55 PM

Any suggestions as to where to look for a good (used is not a problem as long as it isn't in crappy condition) anvil for a beginner metal worker?

one person (not on the forum) suggested getting a section (approx a foot or 2 long) of railroad track and using that as a makeshift anvil.
yes, no , maybe?

Originally posted by: chaoswarp on 7/31/2005 11:05:16 PM

i live just outside of valley forge pennsylvania. about 30 miles outside of philadelphia

Originally posted by: Bob Hoyer on 7/31/2005 10:58:31 PM

'Let your fingers do the walking' under the category "Scrap Metal". Might even find an anvil that way. How close are you to a large city? ... or to an area that would be classified as 'industrial'?

Originally posted by: chaoswarp on 7/31/2005 10:50:19 PM

thanks .. i guess i will just have to shop around for an anvil .. but in the mean time .. how would one go about acquiring a section of railroad track? (legally of course)

Originally posted by: Bob Hoyer on 7/31/2005 10:42:48 PM

The railroad track is what I use if I need to beat on something. But it is definitely no substitute for my Father-in-Law's anvil.

If you are wanting to learn metalworking, get a real anvil. And don't settle for something undersized. It will be a lifetime investment. Shipping might kill you, but have you tried e-bay.

Harbor Freight lists one, but I don't think it is big enough. And I don't see any mounting holes in the base. You'll want more anvil than this.

Originally posted by: woodrot on 8/1/2005 3:34:37 AM

Any farm supply store should carry anvils

Originally posted by: Bob Hoyer on 7/31/2005 11:23:34 PM

Or this may be more in your affordability range:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000DD71...glance&s=hi&n=507846

Grizzly tools have a pretty good reputation both for value and serviceability among many members of this forum.

Also see their site:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/search.html/ref=sr_zsrh_/102-0...chant=A2LM8ZC59IT9RX

Originally posted by: Bob Hoyer on 7/31/2005 11:13:51 PM

For 'serious' info on anvils, check out this site. (Might be a little out of our league, but we can dream, can't we.) They are in Virginia.
http://www.euroanvils.net/contact.php

Originally posted by: chaoswarp on 8/1/2005 7:39:36 PM

Well i checked with the local scrap yards (all 4 of them) and none of them had either anvils (i know that one was a long short) or a section of railroad rail .. or anything that might fit the bill.

I will have to check with harbor freight there is one a few towns over.

Originally posted by: ZIPPER on 8/1/2005 2:55:38 PM

chaoswarp,

I saw some good selections at Harbor Freight.

I'd hate to buy an anvil online from anyone and pay the freight.

Let us know what you find.

Originally posted by: pegleg on 8/1/2005 2:35:18 PM

chaoswarp, do you have axcess to McMASTER-CARR,they have anvil from 1 3/8# up to 392# my book i old so wont put in the prices. PEGLEG

Originally posted by: lightnin on 8/1/2005 5:05:53 AM

i just got a grissly catolog it does have sevral dif. sizes in it so go to their sight and pull up anvil you'l see sevral sizes/

Originally posted by: Teetorbilt on 8/1/2005 10:10:54 PM

Most of the stuff that comes from China is cast iron. A good one will be ductile iron (less suseptible to breaking). Mine is a family heirloom, it dates back to around the Civil War. I have another made buy the british co., Record that has been around for about 50 yrs, without breaking. It also has built in small pipe benders.

Originally posted by: bschmitt on 8/1/2005 9:10:29 PM

I would suggest asking some farmers if they would know of anyone that had an anvil or someone that has one that don't use it. Just driving through the country side and stopping and asking a farmer don't take much effort to do that you will probably get one at a very fair price
Bill

Originally posted by: chaoswarp on 8/1/2005 8:21:28 PM

barring bad traffic harrisburg is about an hour to an hour and a half away from here ... hopefully harbor freight will pan out for me but thanks for the heads up.

Originally posted by: alwaysfixingsomething on 8/1/2005 7:54:29 PM

Chaoswarp - If you have no luck at Harbor Freight, Grissly has a store south of Williamsport in Muncy PA. Us 15 north out of Harrisburg. Probably a day's trip from Valley Forge. Gas would probably be less than the shipping charge.

Originally posted by: twisted 54 on 8/4/2005 4:05:49 AM

they are kinda like that,one thing you need to watch for at estate sales is what they call "Mules" here.They are the people that work with the auctioneers that bid on items to help drive the price up of an item.
Tom

Originally posted by: guttercat2000 on 8/4/2005 3:25:18 AM

hello,
I would avoid the anvils at harbor frieght, they much to soft.(at least ones I have seen.) you want a hard anvil, one that will bounce the hammer. a soft anvil will tire you out much quicker than a hard one because you must lift the full weight of the hammer with every blow. a hard anvil will bounce the hammer back up for you. also the anvils at h.f. are so soft they dent with every good hit.
when you looking for an anvil to purchase take along a hardened steel bolt or nut or any simmilar item, as long as it is hard steel.
Drop this item on the anvil and listen if anvil rings it is probably ok, if all you hear is a dull thud you should keep looking.

I hope this helps you avoid the same mistake I made. my old h.f. anvil now sits in someones yard as a decoretive piece.

happy shopping.

Originally posted by: chaoswarp on 8/3/2005 6:27:30 PM

not yet, but i will look around to see if i can find a flea market or estate sale (that is a fancy yard sale ... right?)

Originally posted by: twisted 54 on 8/3/2005 4:15:00 AM

have you tried any of he local flea markets in the larger towns or any of the estate auctions?
Tom

Originally posted by: guttercat2000 on 8/6/2005 12:50:54 PM

thats the real soft anvil I was talking about, you will not be happy with it, unless you want a door stop!
a piece of rail road track would be better, as it much harder.

Originally posted by: MikeACG on 8/5/2005 6:26:10 PM

Chaoswarp,

Check out some of the knife forums. I have a place over in Charlotte, NC that sells anvils and I would guess that there are knife supply places everywhere that carry them. You are in PA? I would think there are plenty of knife guys in your neighborhood.

Originally posted by: chaoswarp on 8/5/2005 1:10:56 PM

awesome thanks for the heads up ... that seems to be a fair price for a "starter anvil"

Originally posted by: cedar on 8/4/2005 7:39:11 PM

Harbor Freight tools has an anvil advertised. Weight is 55 lbs. Price is $49.99. The item # in the catalog is00806-2AKH

Originally posted by: gardenmann on 8/8/2005 7:13:28 AM

Another idea is my Dad used a broken hammer out of a rock crusher for an anvil. It wasn't real big; about a foot by 4 inches wide by 3 inches thick, but it was one of those ringing, bouncing kinds of hardened steel. It did the job for him. I don't know how far away you are from a rock quarry or a cement plant, but that would be a place to look.

Originally posted by: alwaysfixingsomething on 8/7/2005 8:28:04 PM

Are there any railroad yards or repair shops near you? Do you know anyone who works for SEPTA or the railroad?

Originally posted by: chaoswarp on 8/7/2005 3:09:52 PM

Where can I find a piece of rail road track though ... all the avenues I have explored so far have turned up bupkiss

Originally posted by: J.R. on 8/26/2005 7:39:01 PM

I saw an idea not long ago where a buddy of mine used a foot long chunk of 6-inch I-beam and cut it to his specs.I would think you could get that at any metal yard for a couple of bucks.I've been thinking of doing that for myself and seeing if Ican find a procedure for hardening the metal to make it not so malleable,if I find something I'll post it.

Originally posted by: chaoswarp on 8/8/2005 7:08:34 PM

thanks for all the good ideas .. keep them coming and I will let you know when one pans out.

Originally posted by: marauderpilot on 8/8/2005 7:02:28 PM

I live in Northeast, PA. Many small farms near me are being sold off and the equipment is being sold at auction on site. Just last week one near me had a 2 foot section of railroad track; could'nt even get a 1.00 bid on it. Try your local auction houses on the internet. Try to find estate sales or farm auctions. You never know; prices should be cheap as well.

Originally posted by: guttercat2000 on 8/8/2005 6:15:15 PM

where to get rail road rail. thats is a tough one ,
I will ask around here for any ideas and post back. Mikes post sounds like a great idea, may be that will pan out.
I feel bad telling you what not to get, without having a good alternitive. I,ll keep poking around tho and see what comes up.
good luck ,dan.

Originally posted by: chaoswarp on 9/15/2005 5:05:07 PM

I am a member of a western martial arts school (european styles of fighting swords, shields, quarterstaffs etc) I am in the process of assembling a set of leather armor for when we do demos for the public since we use real swords etc .. But i really want to make some metal plate armor. Currently the only thing i have made in metal aside from some decorative trim for my bracers is what is called a shield boss. It is a metal plate that is dished (rounded) and mounted to the center of a wooden shield to protect your hand. That i made simply by hammering a plate of 18 gauge steel on a dished out stump. but the stump wont do for the finer work required to make functional plate armor.

Originally posted by: ZIPPER on 9/15/2005 3:39:05 PM

chaoswarp,

Plate Armor?? Explain please.
Is it armor for the plates in the kitchen?
Are you part of the Knight's of the Round Table society?

This might be interesting.

Originally posted by: chaoswarp on 9/15/2005 2:56:51 PM

I am trying my hand at making plate armor.

Originally posted by: Knifeman on 9/15/2005 11:55:50 AM

Anvils either new or used are not cheap if they are in seviceable condition. Farm auctions are a good place to look. What kind of work you are doing will dictate how heavy the anvil should be. Centaur Forge is where I purchased my anvil. They have many sizes, varieties, and price ranges. Centaurforge.com is the addy. A make-shift anvil will get you by, but if you are serious, please invest in a quality anvil. Happy forging!

Originally posted by: hi ho sliver on 10/2/2005 5:34:22 AM

You see anvils around from time to time, any where from the very small hobby anvils on up to 100 plus pounds, but I never see any of the attachments that go into the anvils? different shapes for forming etc??

Originally posted by: Teetorbilt on 10/1/2005 2:38:52 PM

OK, time to back up the truck. For armour, you are going to want some hardwood stumps AND an anvil. A small anvil will work as it is only for detailed work unless you want to form from billets and make your own sheeting.

Some of the older guys at the Ferarri plant were using stumps to form body panels and you don't want to know about the wok factory that I visited in China (done on stumps), an OSHA nightmare.

Originally posted by: Ringo's Bonfire on 10/1/2005 11:05:04 AM

You would be very surprised what a stump can do. the trick is to have several so you can chisel various grooves and hollow forms into them. The real ticket is going to be your hammers. Armourers' hammers resemble silversmithing hammers, and in fact, the two trades were very closely related. Most armour work was done cold. At least the type that you'd want to walk around in. Deep dishing and anticlastic curves may require some heat, but they are the exception. Look into chasing hammers and raising hammers, and carve that stump to suit.

quote:

...i really want to make some metal plate armor. Currently the only thing i have made in metal aside from some decorative trim for my bracers is what is called a shield boss. It is a metal plate that is dished (rounded) and mounted to the center of a wooden shield to protect your hand. That i made simply by hammering a plate of 18 gauge steel on a dished out stump. but the stump wont do for the finer work required to make functional plate armor.

Originally posted by: Ringo's Bonfire on 10/1/2005 11:00:37 AM

A new anvil is going to be somewhere in the neighborhood of $12 per pound. A used anvil shouldn't be more than $3 per pound. Use that as a guide. Unfortunately, the price of used anvils has gone up as many people now try to sell them as antiques. DO NOT buy an anvil based on price alone. There are some thoroughly unuseable anvils for sale for rediculous prices. Look at the face. It should be flat in both directions, and should have reasonably good edges. The bik (horn) is often a bit marred, but that is pretty normal, and dot really a big deal as it is not a primary forging surface.

A helped open an architectural blacksmith shop in 2000,and we started out with a 25 lb Little Giant power hammer and 2 125 lb. anvils. They were a little light, but we forged several 5" balls on them.

Railroad tracl is good, but scrap yards are more likely to have just large cut-offs of steel. Ours regularly has short (12" and under) sections of 4-8" square stock and discs of round stock up to 20" in diameter and several inches thick. an anvil, especially for a beginner, can be any chunk of steel with enough mass to absorb and rebound a blow.

Originally posted by: GrinderJohn on 10/2/2005 7:59:07 PM

Seeing that your are just an hour from Lancaster, it would be a good idea to check out that area for an anvil. If the Amish don't know where to find on localy the check out Harbor Freight.

GrinderJohn from Quakertown, PA

Originally posted by: chaoswarp on 10/2/2005 6:59:08 PM

thanks for the helpful hints .. keep em coming

Originally posted by: Ringo's Bonfire on 10/2/2005 7:33:03 AM

The attatchments you are looking for are stakes, and they come in all shapes and sizes. They can be used in the hardie hole of the anvil (square hole) or can be sunk into a stump (they are sometimes called stump anvils) or held in vices. I see armourers use mushroom stakes quite a bit. They are used more by silversmiths, so try searching under silversmithing tools of forming/raising stakes.

quote:

Originally posted by hi ho sliver:
You see anvils around from time to time, any where from the very small hobby anvils on up to 100 plus pounds, but I never see any of the attachments that go into the anvils? different shapes for forming etc??

Originally posted by: Ringo's Bonfire on 10/5/2005 4:36:58 AM

Here are three sites for new anvils. The first site carries what I consider to be the best product. The anvils are of a double-bik Czech pattern that is very versitile. Do not be afraid of cast anvils per se, These are cast from tool steel, and are very durable. I have no experience with the Euroanvils, but I have heard good things.

From my experience, your chances of finding a decent anvil in Amish country is not good, as this path has been beaten pretty well over the past 20 years.

Good luck!

http://oldworldanvils.com/

http://www.euroanvils.net/

http://www.centaurforge.com/

Originally posted by: Teetorbilt on 10/4/2005 4:38:48 PM

Harborfreight is cast iron.

Originally posted by: chaoswarp on 10/4/2005 10:45:21 AM

I tried that already .. and the anvil i saw there (in their store) was .. for lack of a better term .. absoulute ****e. Instead of having the pleasant ring and rebound of a decent anvil, this one just made a dull thud sound and there was a dent on the top face of the anvil where I hit a hammer on it (not that hard either). Think I will have to set aside a day when I can head out to lancaster county and go see if I can find one from one of the amish farmers.

Originally posted by: klator on 10/4/2005 9:20:14 AM

GO TO HARBORFREIGHT.COM

Originally posted by: Bob Hoyer on 10/11/2005 11:00:57 PM

Call UPS and ask.

Originally posted by: chaoswarp on 10/11/2005 8:39:24 PM

hmmm what would something like that cost to have shipped to southeast PA (zip code 19453 if that helps hehe)

Originally posted by: Lloyd Mccoley on 10/10/2005 12:21:43 PM

As a retired blacksmith and farrier, I happen to have an anvil for sale or trade. It is a 150 lb farriers shoeing anvil with several fids and is in pretty good shape. I am located in Northeastern Oklahoma and am willing to trade if the trade is right. I can be contacted at lloyd_mccoley@yahoo.com if you are interested.

Originally posted by: Lloyd Mccoley on 10/10/2005 12:16:56 PM

quote:

Originally posted by chaoswarp:
Any suggestions as to where to look for a good (used is not a problem as long as it isn't in crappy condition) anvil for a beginner metal worker?

one person (not on the forum) suggested getting a section (approx a foot or 2 long) of railroad track and using that as a makeshift anvil.
yes, no , maybe?